Second Conditional in English

The second conditional is used to talk about unreal or unlikely situations in the present or future. It describes imaginary results that would happen if something were true. In this article, you’ll learn what the second conditional means, when to use it, how to form it, and see real-life examples to help you understand and use it correctly.

What Is the Second Conditional?

The second conditional is used to talk about imaginary or unlikely situations in the present or future. These are not real events, but things we imagine would happen under different conditions.

It often describes dreams, hypothetical situations, or things we don’t expect to happen. The structure expresses what we would do if something happened, even though it’s unlikely or not true.

Example:

• If I won the lottery, I would travel the world.
  (= I probably won’t win, but I’m imagining what I would do if I did.)

When to Use the Second Conditional

Use the second conditional when:

• Talking about unreal or impossible situations in the present
  If I were taller, I’d play basketball professionally.

• Imagining unlikely events in the future
  If I met a celebrity, I’d take a selfie.

• Giving advice or suggestions
  If I were you, I’d talk to the manager.

• Expressing dreams or wishes
  If we lived by the beach, we’d swim every day.

Second Conditional Structure

The second conditional has a clear and simple structure:

Form: If + Past Simple, Would + Base Verb

The condition uses the past simple, and the result uses would + base verb:

• If I had more time, I would learn Spanish.
• If he studied harder, he would pass the test.

You can also reverse the order of the sentence:

• I would learn Spanish if I had more time.
• He would pass the test if he studied harder.

Examples of Second Conditional Sentences

• If I had a million dollars, I would buy a house by the sea.
• I would travel more if I weren’t so busy.
• If he knew the answer, he would tell you.
• If I were you, I’d apply for that job.
• If it snowed in July, people would be shocked.
• I would call her if I had her number.
• If we had a bigger kitchen, we’d cook more at home.
• If I knew how to fix it, I would help you.
• If my phone worked, I would send you a message.
• We would go to the beach if the weather were nicer.
• If they studied harder, they would pass the exam.
• She would come with us if she weren’t working today.
• If I didn’t have allergies, I would get a cat.
• If our internet was faster, we’d stream in 4K.
• What would you do if you lost your wallet?
• If my friends lived closer, I’d visit them every weekend.
• I would join the team if I were in better shape.
• If I weren’t afraid of flying, I’d travel more.
• He’d buy that car if it were cheaper.
• If we didn’t have homework, we would watch a movie.

“Was” vs. “Were” in the Second Conditional

In the second conditional, we usually use “were” instead of “was” with the subject “I,” “he,” “she,” or “it.” This is because we are talking about imaginary or unreal situations. Using “were” is considered grammatically correct and more formal in these cases.

Examples:

• If I were you, I would take the job.
• If she were taller, she could be a model.